India’s middle-order dynamo Shivam Dube stole the show in Ahmedabad, smashing 66 off 31 balls with six sixes and four fours to propel India to 193/6 against Netherlands in T20 World Cup 2026 Match 36. His all-round heroics, including 2 wickets for 35 runs, earned him Player of the Match as India defended the total for a 17-run triumph, with Netherlands stranded at 176/7.
Post-match, Dube revealed the tactical nudge from skipper and coach: elevate the strike rate immediately upon entering in the middle phase. ‘They specifically instructed me to keep the scoring rate high from the middle overs,’ Dube shared, adding it hinged on match context.
Describing the batting surface as demanding—skiddy, low, and turning—Dube relished the fight. An off-spinner’s probing over with four dots tested him, but resilience paid off. ‘I enjoy hitting sixes and boundaries, but against quality bowling, you adjust and set up for the big shots.’
Anticipating tactics like short balls and slower ones, Dube was primed. ‘I prepared for them trying to block me, not yorkers or full lengths.’ His bowling stint underlined dedication: ‘T20 is feast or famine, but hard work on variations is paying dividends.’
Dube’s performance underscores India’s depth, blending calculated aggression with all-round utility in the high-stakes tournament.